MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

1:00 PM or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Development was held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Phil King, Chair

 

None

Senator Kevin Sparks, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Carol Alvarado

 

 

Senator Nathan Johnson

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 7:55 PM. A quorum was established at 8:01 PM. The following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner.

 

The chair laid out HB 1851 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

There being no further witnesses on HB 1851, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator King moved that HB 1851 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HCR 127 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Parker, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

There being no further witnesses on HCR 127, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator King moved that HCR 127 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HCR 118 and recognized Senator Sparks, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

There being no further witnesses on HCR 118, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator King moved that HCR 118 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:03 PM Senator Sparks assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 346 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Phil King, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator King to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

There being no further witnesses on HB 346, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HB 346 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2974 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Phil King, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator King to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

There being no further witnesses on HB 2974, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HB 2974 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:11 PM Senator King resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HCR 141 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Middleton, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

There being no further witnesses on HCR 141, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator King moved that HCR 141 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 5596 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Middleton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Middleton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

There being no further witnesses on HB 5596, public testimony was closed.

 

Senator King moved that HB 5596 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1851.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HB 1851 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4230, in lieu of SB 1520, which was heard at a previous hearing and left pending.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that HB 4230 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator King moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 5596.

 

Senator Sparks sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Sparks moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HB 5596 do not pass but that CSHB 5596 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HCR 118.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HCR 118 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HCR 127.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HCR 127 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator King moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HCR 141.

 

Senator Sparks moved that HCR 141 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

At 8:18 PM Senator Sparks assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 346.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Schwertner moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that HB 346 do not pass but that CSHB 346 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2974.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Schwertner moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that HB 2974 do not pass but that CSHB 2974 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

At 8:20 PM Senator King resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 8:21 PM Senator Sparks moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Phil King, Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jack Herrell, Clerk